(UPDATE) Statement from Sheriff's Office on Sunday Incident at County Fair; Harness Racing at the Fair Has Been Canceled for the Week

The Effingham County Sheriff's Office has released information regarding the incident that injured a five-year-old girl at the Effingham County Fairgrounds Sunday afternoon.

The statement reads in part "On July 30th at 1:05pm, the Effingham County Sheriff's Office received a report of an incident at the Effingham County Fairgrounds. A horse racing pace car owned by Michael D. Titus of Charleston, Illinois, and driven by Jerry W. Young of Jackson, Mississippi, struck Harper Finn with an extended starting gate while passing the grandstand. Harper Finn was in the grandstand when the accident occurred. She was transported from the scene by A-1 Ambulance of Altamont to HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham, and later airlifted to St. Louis Children's Hospital by ARCH Air Medical."

Harper Finn was still a patient at St. Louis Children's Hospital this morning. She is the daughter of Richard and Bethanie Finn of Altamont. Richard is a harness racing driver and was to be competing at the fair this week. The Finn family is a highly successful harness racing family and members of the Finn family have won the driver's award at the fair numerous times.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing by the Effingham County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by the Altamont Police Department, A-1 Ambulance Service, Altamont Fire Protection District, and the Effingham County Fair Board.

Due to the accident, the decision was announced early Monday afternoon to cancel the harness racing card at the fair for the week. A statement reads, "In honor and respect for the Finn family the harness races at the Effingham County Fair have been canceled this week. We ask that everyone please keep the family in your prayers and allow them time to heal."

All other events at this year's fair are proceeding as scheduled.